Method of packaging and package arrangement



1965 H. F. THOMPSON 3,

METHOD OF PACKAGING AND PACKAGE ARRANGEMENT Filed Nov. 6, 1963 7 4 Z3 36265055 Z Z United States Patent 3,220,366 METHOD OF PACKAGING ANDPACKAGE ARRANGEMENT Henry F. Thompson, 1616 E. 50th Place, Chicago, Ill.Filed Nov. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 321,890 4 Claims. (Cl. 108-161) Thisinvention relates in general to the burgeoning do-it-yourself business.More particularly, it relates to a prefabricated dinette table. Theinvention deals specifically with a new and improved method of packingand a packing arrangement for a prefabricated dinette table.

The conventional kitchen dinette table comprises a sectioned table tophaving a plasticized upper surface. Two end sections of the topordinarily separate on slides secured to their undersides and receive aleaf section for enlarging the size of the table. Four legs areappropriately secured to the underside of the table adjacent its cornersand are rigidified with suitable braces. The table is conventionallysold by a furniture supply house in completely assembled form or, by amanufacturer or the like, broken down to the extent that the legs andbraces are removed while the sectioned table top is shipped intact withthe leaf installed in table.

The foregoing arrangement is not readily suited for the cash-and-carryretail customer, of course, since it is virtually impossible for him totransport the table completely assembled and, the top of the tableitself is too unwieldy to permit easy handling even if it is brokendown. Accordingly, it has heretofore been impossible to market such asalable item as the dinette table in supermarkets or cash and carrydiscount houses, for examples.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedmethod of packing a prefabricated dinette table.

It is another object to provide a method of the aforedescribed characterwhich facilitates rapid packing, unpacking, and assembly of the dinettetable.

It is yet another object to provide a new and improved packingarrangement for a prefabricated dinette table.

It is yet another object to provide a packing arrangement of theaforedescribed character which is so small and light as to be easilytransportable by a relatively slight person.

The foregoing and other objects are realized in accord with the presentinvention by providing a new and improved method of packing and apacking arrangement for a prefabricated dinette table. The methodcontemplates breaking the table down into its various components,including the sectioned table top. The top is, in turn, broken down intoits two end sections and the leaf section; the leaf section beingpartitioned adjacent its mid-point and arranged for packing purposeswith the apron of one half overlapping the narrow raw edge of the otherhalf.

The various components of the prefabricated dinette table, excluding thetop end sections themselves, are then placed in predeterminedarrangement on the underside of one of the table top sections, entirelywithin the confines of the perimeter of the section. In thispredetermined arrangement, which embodies features of the presentinvention, the dimensional thickness of the components stored on theunderside of one of the table top end sections is so small as to permitthe other section to be placed on the first table top section in mirrorrelationship so that the depending aprons conventionally provided onsuch table top sections substantially meet and establish a closedpackage arrangement. The package arrangement is of the order of threeand a half inches thick, is thirty inches wide, and twenty inches high.It weighs approximately thirty-two pounds and, accordingly, it is easilycarried by a single person.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,taken with further objects and advantages thereof, will best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view from the top of a dinette table of thetype in question, with the leaf section removed and partially folded onits hinges.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the dinette table illustrated inFIGURE 1, disposed in a packing arrangement embodying features of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a completely packaged dinette table;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of the various components of the dinette table,some of them packaged, according to the present invention on theunderside of one section of the dinette table;

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 with the table in the latterstages of packaging;

FIGURE 6 is an end elevational view of the packaging arrangementcompleted by placing the other table top section in mirror relationshipover the section illustrated in FIGURE 4; and,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the leg mounting bracket utilized inthe table.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1, a broadlyconventional dinette table is illustrated at 10. The table 10 isconventional in that it is composed of the same components which make upthe dinette tables of this general type sold in furniture stores, forexample, in assembled form, with the exception of certain simplemodifications which facilitate and are according to the presentinvention.

The table 10 packaged according to the present invention is illustratedat 11 in FIGURES 2 and 3. The package arrangement 11 includes the table10, arranged according to the method embodying features of the presentinvention, enclosed by a corrugated cardboard carton 12 which is thirtyinches long, twenty inches high, and three and a half inches wide. Theentire package arrangement 11 including table and carton 12 weighs onlythirty-two pounds. The size and weight of the package arrangementfacilitates easy transportation by a single person under his arm, forexample, as will be recognized.

Referring once more to FIGURE 1, the table 10 will be seen to include anidentical pair of top end sections 20 and 21. Each end section includesa fiberboard base 22 having a plasticized upper surface 23 thereon (seeFIG- URES 4 and 6). The end sections are preferably threefourths of aninch thick. An apron 24 depends from three sides of the fiberboard base22 for a distance of one inch below the edge of the bottom surface 25 ofthe base 22. One edge 26 of each base 22 is bare, of course.

Each end section 20 and 21 is twenty inches long by thirty inches wide.This is a standard length and width, of course. The overall depth ofeach end section, including the apron 24, is one and three-fourthsinches. As will hereinafter be discussed in detail, the dimensions ofthe table referred to above are broadly pertinent to the presentinvention.

The two top end sections 20 and 21 of the table 10 are joined by a pairof slide assemblies 30 and 31, as illustrated in FIGURE 1. The slideassemblies 30 and 31 are identical in construction and each is securedto the bottom surface 25 of a corresponding base 22 by selftappingscrews. The construction of each of the slide assemblies 30 and 31 isbroadly conventional; each assembly comprising telescoping members 33and 34. A stop (not shown) is provided between the members 33 and 34 tomake them expansible only to a certain point and prevent completeparting of the end sections 20 and 21 when the table is in use.

The top end sections and 21 are slidable on the slide assemblies and 31into immediately adjacent relationship wherein a table top forty incheslong and thirty inches wide is provided. In turn, the top end sections20 and 21 are readily separable on the slide assemblies 30 and 31 tofacilitate insertion of the leaf section 40. The leaf section is eightinches wide and thirty inches long.

The leaf section 40 includes two fiberboard base members 41 connected bythree hinges 43. The base members 41 have plasticized upper surfaces 44,of course, and depending sections of apron are of the same length as theapron 24 on each of the top end sections 20 and 21.

To facilitate folding and storage of the leaf section 40 when inhousehold use, the base members 41 are joined by the hinge assemblies 43at a point one-eighth inch to one side of the center of the leaf section40. Accordingly, the oppositely disposed pieces of apron 45 nest withineach other when the section 40 is folded. The hinge assemblies 43 aresecured to the bottom surface of the fiberboard pieces 41 byconventional self-tapping screws.

The leaf section 40 is adapted to expand the length of the table 10 from40 to 48 inches, as would be expected. The leaf section 40 is heldfirmly in position between the top end sections 20 and 21 by pinssecured to the bottom surface of the fiberboard base members 41; thepins 50 and 51 being slidably received in brackets 52 and 53 provided oncorresponding end sections 20 and 21. In addition to the relationshipbetween the aforementioned pins and the brackets, laterally spacedtongues 57 are afiixed to the bottom surface of the base members 41, asillustrated, and are adapted to underlie a corresponding raw edge 26 ofthe appropriate end section 20 or 21. Furthermore, identical tongues 60are secured, as illustrated, to the bottom surface 25 of correspondingend sections 20 and 21 and are adapted to underlie the bottom surface ofthe leaf section 40. With the end sections 20 and 21 pushed tightlytogether against the leaf section 40, the leaf section 40 is thus firmlyheld in flush relationship with the end sections 20 and 21, the plasticsurfaces 44 and 23 being coextens1ve.

Supporting the table 10 are its legs 65, as will be recognized. Each ofthe legs is a slightly tapered steel tube having its largest diameter(one and one-eighth inches) at its upper end, and a nonskid boot (notshown) formed of rubber or plastic or the like slipped over its lowerend. The upper ends of each of the legs seat in socket brackets (SeeFIGURE 7) secured in appropriately displaced relationship on the bottomsurfaces 25 of the fiberboard bases 22 in the top end sections 20 and21, adjacent the corners thereof, by conventional self-tapping screws.The upper ends 66 of the legs slip into the socket portion 77 of thebrackets 75; and there are retained by clamping screws 78. The brackets75 are approximately one and one-eighth inches high.

Each of the legs 65 is approximately 28 inches long, according to theinvention; a suitable length for providing optimum table height in use,for example. Generally V-shaped leg braces 85, each about a foot inoverall length, brace corresponding legs 65 against the bottom surface25 of corresponding top end sections 20 and 21. This is accomplished ina conventional manner by appropriate screw fasteners and self-tappingscrews. The braces are preferably formed of one-eighth inch steel rod orthe like.

According to the present invention the aforedescribed table 10 isreadily disposed in the package arrangement 11 embodying features of thepresent invention by the method of the present invention. The prescribedpacking method assumes that the table 10 is broken into the variouscomponents hereinbefore discussed, of course, as it would come from themanufacturer. To facilitate assembly, however, it is important thattapping of holes for receiving the self-tapping screws for the variousbrackets, braces, tongues, and slide assemblies, and the like, beaccomplished. It is also contemplated that a printed full size diagram(not shown) be affixed to the undersides of each end section and leafsection to facilitate assembly.

With the entire table 10 componentized, including the leaf section 40separated at its hinge assemblies 43, one of the end sections 20 or 21(let us say 20 in this case) is placed upside down with its bottomsurface 25 facing upwardly, on a supporting means. The two base members41 of the leaf section 40 are placed bottom surface to bottom surface inoverlapping relationship with their aprons 45 overhanging and,accordingly, form a generally rectangular component, fifteen andone-eighth inches long, eight inches wide, and one and one-half inchesthick. This component is seated in the center of the bottom surface 25on the top end section 20, as illustrated in FIGURE 4, with its majoraxis aligned with the major axis of the top end section 20. A cardboardband is placed over the leaf section component and stapled to the bottomsurface 25 to hold the member securely against the bottom surface.Adhesived buffer patches 96 are then placed in the four corners of theupwardly facing plastic surface 44 to prevent scuffing of the plasticsurface 45 by the other top end section 21 when it is placed insandwiching relationship to complete the package arrangement 11.

In the next step, the legs 65 are preferably wrapped in suitablewrapping paper and placed on its bottom surface 25 in bracketingrelationship with the leaf section component and, in longitudinallydisposed relationship with the end section 20. A pair of legs 65 areseated on each side of the folded leaf section 40. Somewhat narrowercardboard bands 100 are then stapled over the opposite ends ofcorresponding pairs of legs 65 (as illustrated in FIGURE 5). These bandsare stapled to the bottom surface 25 of the end section 20 and,accordingly, securely hold the legs 65 against the bottom surface. Thelegs fit within the confines of the apron 24 since they are twentyeightinches long, less than thirty inches, of course.

In the next step, the slide assemblies 30 are telescoped together asmuch as possible and stapled to the bottom surface 25 in bracketingrelationship with the secured legs 65, as also illustrated in FIGURE 4.The slide assemblies 30 are appropriately stapled to the bottom surface25 through any of the holes 100 formed in the assemblies for ordinarilyreceiving the self-tapping screws.

In the following procedure, all the hardware utilized in assembling thetable 10; the socket brackets 75, the braces 85, the tongues and pins,the brackets 52 and 53 and the various self-tapping screws, are dividedbetween two flat packages which are approximately eight inches long andsix inches wide. As previously pointed out, the largest pieces ofhardware (the socket brackets 75) are just one and one-eighth incheshigh. Accordingly, the package 105 itself is no thicker than about oneand one-half inches at points where the brackets 75 are.

In the next step, the braces 85, which are composed of approximatelyone-fourth inch rod, as has been pointed out, are placed in overlappingrelationship with the packages 105, a nested pair of braces 85 on eachpackage 105. Cardboard bands 106 are then placed in overlyingrelationship with corresponding packages 105 and stacked leg braces 85,and stapled to the bottom surface 25 of the end section 20 asillustrated in FIGURE 5. The packages 105 and the stacked braces 85 arethus securely held against the bottom surface 25.

The next and last step in the method embodying features of the presentinvention; outside of actually inserting the table 10 into the carton12, is placing the other top end section 21 in mirror relationship overthe top end section 20. Since the overall thickness of the componentarrangement fastened to the bottom surface 25 has been calculated to beno greater than about one and threefourths to two inches (includingcardboard), the depending aprons 24 of each of the end'sections' 20 and21 come together around their peripheries, forming pocket likearrangement only three and a half inches in thickness. The table 10,arranged according to the present invention, is then inserted in thecarton 12, as illustrated before in FIGURE 2.

As a result of the development of this new packaging method andarrangement, a drastic reduction in the size of an extreme-1y salableitem is facilitated. Accordingly, it is possible for the consumer topurchase the table in componentized package form, carry it home with himand assemble it himself. This effectively reduced shipping, storage,marketing, and merchandising costs to the manufacturer and retailer, andthe final purchase price to the consumer, with no reduction in thequality of the table itself.

While the arrangement of the invention described herein is at presentconsidered to be preferred, it is understood that variations andmodifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in theappended claims all such variations and modifications as fall Within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

What is desired to be claimed and secured by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. A method of packaging a leaf-type expansible table wherein the tab-1eincludes a two-sectioned top, a leaf section for insertion between thetop sections, an apron depending from the periphery of the sections,supporting legs and leg braces, expansion slides, and hardware, saidmethod comprising steps of: segmenting the leaf section and folding itover upon itself, seating the folded leaf section on the bottom of oneend section within the confines of its apron, seating the legs of thetable on the bottom of said one end section in parallel relationshipwith the longitudinal axis of the folded leaf section, seating the legbraces on the bottom of said one end section, seating the tableexpansion slides and miscellaneous hardware on the bottom of said oneend section, placing the other and section of the table in complementarysandwich relationship over the bottom of said one end section, wherebycorresponding aprons come substantially into abutting relationship, andenclosing the thus arranged componentized table in a container.

2. A method of packaging a leaf-type expansible table wherein the tableincludes a two-sectioned top, .a leaf section for insertion between thetop sections, an apron depending from the periphery of the sections,supporting legs and leg braces, expansion slides, and hardware, saidmethod comprising the steps of: segmenting the leaf section on a linetransverse to the longitudinal axis of the section and closer to one endof the section than to the other end, pivotally connecting the segmentsof the leaf section on said line, folding the leaf section over uponitself so the apron segments associated therewith overlap; seating thefolded leaf section on the bottom of one end section within the confinesof its apron, seating the legs of the table on the bottom of said oneend section in parallel relationship with the longitudinal axis of thefolded leaf section, seating the leg braces on the bottom of said oneend section, seating the table expansion slides and miscellaneoushardware on the bottom of said one end section, placing the other endsection of the table in complementary sandwich relationship over thebottom of said one end section whereby corresponding apron segments onsaid end sections come into substantially abutting relationship, andenclosing the thus arranged componentized table in a container.

3. The method of claim 2 further characterized in that said tab-1eexpansion slides are seated on the bottom of said one end section inparallel relationship with said legs.

4. The method of claim 3 further characterized in that said leg bracesare seated on opposite ends of the bottom of said one end section intransversely extending relationship with said axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 380,218 3/1888Rice 108-33 543,794 7/ 1895 Zalikowski 10886 1,307,145 6/ 1919 Penneck108--67 1,796,268 3/ 1931 Richardson 10883 2,631,075 3/1953 De Gaal10886 2,652,300 9/ 19553 Graber et a1 108--34 X 2,673,774 3/1954 DiPrima 108-36 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,009,083 5/ 1952 France.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF PACKAGING A LEAF-TYPE EXPANSIBLE TABLE WHEREIN THE TABLEINCLUDES A TWO-SECTIONED TOP, A LEAF SECTION FOR INSERTION BETWEEN THETOP SECTIONS, AN APRON DEPENDING FROM THE PERIPHERY OF THE SECTIONS,SUPPORTING LEGS AND LEG BRACES, EXPANSION SLIDES, AND HARDWARE, SAIDMETHOD COMPRISING STEPS OF: SEGMENTING THE LEAF SECTION AND FOLDING ITOVER UPON ITSELF, SEATING THE FOLDED LEAF SECTION ON THE BOTTOM OF ONEEND SECTION WITHIN THE CONFINES OF ITS APRON, SEATING THE LEGS OF THETABLE ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID ONE END SECTION IN PARALLEL RELATIONSHIPWITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE FOLDED LEAF SECTION, SEATING THE LEGBRACES ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID ONE END SECTION, SEATING THE TABLEEXPANSION SLIDES AND MISCELLANEOUS HARDWARE ON THE BOTTOM OF SAID ONEEND SECTION, PLACING THE OTHER END SECTION OF THE TABLE IN COMPLEMENTARYSANDWICH RELATIONSHIP OVER THE BOTTOM OF SAID ONE END SECTION, WHEREBYCORRESPONDING APRONS COME SUBSTANTIALLY INTO ABUTTING RELATIONSHIP, ANDENCLOSING THE THUS ARRANGED COMPONENTIZED TABLE IN A CONTAINER.